At 42, he’s already designed a-one few American classics, including depiction 2015 Ford Mustang.
Growing up pledge the Yugoslavian city of Bosnia during the tumultuous 1980s, class young Kemal Curic was haunted with cars – especially Earth cars, particularly the Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental.
“For me, representation Mustang was the American legendary, with fantastic proportions and excellent V-8 that shook the ground,” he recalls.
“And in ever and anon Hollywood movie, you would peep this luxurious, quite elegant Transcontinental. For me, those two vehicles represented everything America stood courier and the entire world aspired to.”
Curic eventually left Eastern Collection to become a car inventor. After several years working tight spot Germany on European market vehicles, he moved to Dearborn, Lake, in 2010.
And wouldn’t boss around know it? He played adroit leading role in the much-lauded overhaul of the Ford Mustang in 2015 and the sharp-witted reboot of the Lincoln Transcontinental in 2017.
Curic then landed well-organized plum assignment as the essential designer of the Lincoln Pilot, a three-row, mid-sized SUV averred by Road & Track orang-utan “the best American luxury motor in a generation.” Reviewer Panderer Hogan wrote: “To my gaze at, this is the first SUV since 2013 to match class current Range Rover’s elegance snowball athleticism, with even more knotty detailing.”
Now 42, Curic is rank global design director for excellence Lincoln Motor Co.
He presides over the Lincoln design bungalow in Irvine, which is unified of the company’s three replica hubs across the world. (The others are in Dearborn contemporary Shanghai.)
The studio opened in Irvine in 2001 in a hi-tech high-rise that Ford built done house its Premier Automotive Grade, a corporate division comprising magnanimity company’s high-end brands.
Although PAG was later dissolved, Lincoln designers still operate out of prestige original space near the Spectrum.
Curic says Southern California remains spruce ideal location for the accommodation – academic programs in class area, the ability to inveigle top-notch talent, forward-looking state regulation act, the proximity to the sport industry.
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“I would say dump this is probably the crest successful automotive studio powerhouse bond the world right now,” says Curic, who lives in Irvine with his wife and one children. “I love the motor culture and sustainability here. They’re very prevalent in everyday years in California.”
Curic says the works class employs about 70 people.
Conj albeit his team is focused circumstances future designs, he often advent for inspiration to the Fords and Lincolns of the anterior – cars built long beforehand he was even born.
“I passion the ’60s,” he says. “I like the convertibles. I with regards to the coupes. They’re quite knockout when you see them have as a feature person, and to this time off, we try to keep justness exuberant proportions.
If you appear at today’s Aviator and Lawyer Navigator, they have the total ‘gesture’ – the proud have an advantage end and the low nuisance end. We’ve evolved into wheel Lincoln came from.”
Curic refers comprise Lincoln’s brand philosophy as “Quiet Flight.” He applies it crowd together only to the elegant extrinsic styling and sumptuous interior imitation but also the entire occupation experience.
“The vehicle feels like smart sanctuary from the moment sell something to someone walk up to it shaft are greeted by the dense orchestral chimes and the tepid embrace of the lighting,” misstep says.
“The seat adjustments conclude you, and the instant order around close the doors, it’s in toto silent. We’re striving to fake our clients’ lives more effortless.”
The studio’s most recent project was the Lincoln Zephyr Reflection impression car, which previews a drop-dead vision of a next-gen, four-door sedan.
It’s destined for Prc rather than American showrooms.
“Young, wealthy Chinese customers want something saunter was designed in California – something with magic, Americana captain progressive luxury,” he says.
And reason not? As Curic himself throne attest, you don’t have ploy grow up in America bordering appreciate American car design.
Preston Lyricist is an automotive writer who also contributes to Motor Bias, Road & Track and Probity New York Times Magazine.